Jodhpur police head to MP to question Asaram Bapu, arrest likely

New Delhi, Aug 31: The self-styled godman Asaram Bapu's arrest seems imminent as he failed to appear before the Jodhpur police, after his deadline expired on Friday.

A Rajasthan Police team has left to question Asaram Bapu and "then probably arrest him", a senior police officer said.

The four days deadline given to Asaram Bapu by the Jodhpur police in connection with the sexual assault complaint filed by a 16-year-old girl, expired yesterday night.

According to police, 72-year-old Asaram Bapu is currently located in Bhopal.

The police is likely to arrest Asaram Bapu if he does not provide "concrete" defence.

Yesterday, in an attempt to buy more time, Asaram even applied fot transit bail before Gujarat High Court which was later rejected by the court.

Jodhpur DCP Ajay Pal Lamba told reporters that they have decided not to give him any relief as they have no strong ground to believe, what he said in the fax."

On Friday evening, Jodhpur police received a fax from Asaram Bapu stating that on account of his ill-health and death of his relative, he was not able to come in stipulated time and sought more time for appearance before the police for investigation.

Regarding the possibility of Asaram's arrest, Lamba had said that as of now the police had adequate and strong evidence against him enabling it to make an arrest but it will give him a chance to prove him innocent during his interrogation. "If he does not have concrete defence he will be arrested," he had said.

Meanwhile, a large number of Asaram's followers from all across the state have started assembling at his Jodhpur ashram at Pal Road.

Asaram Bapu has been booked under various sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and the Indian Penal Code.